Alias Grace

In the astonishing work by the author of the best sellers The Robber Bride and The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood takes listeners back in time and into the life and mind of one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of the 19th century.

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Publisher's Summary

In the astonishing new work by the author of the best sellers The Robber Bride and The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood takes listeners back in time and into the life and mind of one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of the 19th century. Grace Marks had been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer, the wealthy Thomas Kinnear, and of his housekeeper and mistress, Nancy Montgomery. Some believe Grace is innocent others think her evil or insane. After a stint in Toronto's Lunatic Asylum and now serving a life term, Grace herself claims to have no memory of the murders.

Dr. Simon Jordan, an up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists seeking a pardon for Grace. He listens to Grace's story, from her family's difficult passage from Ireland to Canada, to her time as a maid in Thomas Kinnear's household. And as he brings Grace closer to the day she cannot remember, he hears of the turbulent relationship between Kinnear and Nancy, and of the alarming behavior of Grace's fellow-servant, James McDermott. Jordan is drawn to Grace, but he is also baffled by her. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Is Grace a female fiend, a bloodthirsty femme fatale, or is she a victim of circumstances?

I was looking for a book that would draw me in and keep me on the treadmill long after my 30 minutes were up; and this was it! It's a fascinating story, well written, well presented, and beautifully narrated. My one regret was that I listened to it; it's the type of book I'd normally save for a special full-day reading on the beach. Mental images from the book have stayed with me long after the book was done. And I found myself really captivated by her story and caring about how she was going to come out in the end

I didn't realized this book was abridged, else I would never have selected it. The story was interesting, but the trouble with abridgements is that I always get the feeling I am missing something. No matter how hard the abridger tries, somewhere during the reading I am left wondering what a certain term referred to and why this first reference sounds like a second reference. Personal preference. Buy this for an interesting story, but you might feel a bit unfulfilled at the end.

A truly compelling story of a young woman, lust, murder, betrayal, mystery, with a twist and the end that will make you gasp. I find myself gushing, and I don't gush easily.
This one will grab you and keep you for the entire production! The last audiobook that took my breath away was "The Secret Life of Bees", and this book is every bit its equal. Wonderfully read and lovingly produced. I have become a huge fan of this author.

Margaret Atwood is always great and this book is characteristic of her sensuously detailed style. Complex and ambiguous, but not confusing, "Alias Grace" intrigues until its disappointing, too neat, ending. Where is Atwood's ambiguity when it counts the most? The narrator was fantastic, giving each character a different voice. I was expecialy delighted with her rendition of Grace's subtle Irish brogue. The only other disappointment was that this book is abridged. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book and listened to it twice. However, I did feel slightly "cheated" and wished for the unabridged version because I felt I was missing details so I gave it a 4 instead of a 5. If you can get your hands on the unabridged version, I would definitely recommend it. If not, you will still enjoy it.

This is my 2nd selection by Margaret Atwood and so far I really enjoy the flow and style of her writing. This is a straightforward story of a girl imprisoned for murder who just might have been innocent. Great narrator - she does a good job of portraying the innocence of the main character. I enjoyed this book and will be shopping for more titles by this author.

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